Sudan to provide 10,000 tonnes of sorghum to famine victims in South Sudan

March 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has directed to provide 10,000 tonnes of sorghum to assist those affected by the famine in South Sudan. He further expressed his government readiness to meet humanitarian needs of large influx of refugees from the neighbouring country, said the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner

On 20 February 2017, South Sudanese government and UN agencies declared Some 100,000 people were facing starvation in the two counties of Leer and Mayiandit, while people in Koch and Panyijar nearby were considered at high risk of famine.

Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam told Sudan Tribune Saturday that they discussed with the Vice-President ways to assist victims of war and famine in South Sudan, pointing to the historic ties between the two peoples.

He said the new support would be added to a previous presidential directive to send 27,000 sacks of sorghum, pointing the relief would be transferred through the border crossing in the White Nile State.

Adam stressed that Sudan attaches great importance to the situation in South Sudan and is keen to provide all necessary assistance to its citizens, pointing to the formation of a national committee to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation there.

He pointed to the large influx of South Sudan refugees, expecting a significant increase in their numbers during the coming days.

“The number of those affected by the food shortage is estimated at 4,6 million people and some of them have reached the famine stage and others are experiencing the pre-famine stage,” he said

“More than 70,000 refugees have entered Sudan during February and the first week of March and we expect more influx” he added

The Sudanese official said the government is currently making arrangements to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of Southerners, pointing they intend to set up new refugee camps and provide the greatest amount of aid to the affected.

According to the UN, the number of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan has surpassed the 300,000 mark and as of 13 February and stands at 305,000 people.

Before the December 2013 crisis, 350,000 South Sudanese have remained in Sudan and didn’t return to their areas after the independence of South Sudan.

Also in December 2014, the Sudanese government agreed with the UN to deliver residence permits to South Sudanese refugees enabling them to circulate and to work in the country.

IMPACT ON TWO AREAS

Meanwhile, Adam didn’t rule out that South Kordofan and Blue Nile states could be adversely impacted by the situation in South Sudan, calling on the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to accept the U.S. proposal to deliver assistance to the needy population in the Two Areas.

Adam further underscored Khartoum’s support to the U.S. proposal, pointing to the government categorical refusal to deliver the assistance to the Two Areas from abroad.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

The African Union has been seeking to end the conflict for several years. However, last August, the two sides failed to sign a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement because Khartoum refuses to allow the delivery of food to civilians in some rebel-controlled areas in the Blue Nile State directly through Asosa, an Ethiopian Town near the border with Sudan.

In a bid to break the deadlock in the peace talks, the former U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth last November proposed that the USAID will deliver medical humanitarian aid to civilians in the rebel-held areas by air directly after its inspection from the government.

The SPLM-N declined the proposal insisting on the need to transport 20% of the humanitarian aid directly from Asosa to the rebel areas.

(ST)

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Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

12 March 15:21, by sudani ana

Thank you president Basheer and thank you people of Sudan. I say it on behalf of people who don’t have the words "thank you" in their vocabulary.

Self compliment is demonic characters which by no means that you are one of them in human form. Your satanic move is not the act of sincerity but rather hypocritical move. Clean backyard first before ashaming yourself. Khartoum’s move is only to advertise itself in human theater but its dark side does not require a genius to expose it

The death-deserving criminals in Juba essentially created an artificial famine at the heels of sparking a totally unnecessary war under a false prospectus. I would love nothing more than to express gratitude to you — my dear brothers and sisters in the North, but my knowledge of history just gets in the way. Khartoum created artificial famines in the past... of which just one consumed th

..the lives of at least 200, 000 of our own. The two largest famines resulted in the deaths of over a quarter million lives. And it was Khartoum that started suppprting rebels across the Greater Sudan border in 2009, before we responded in kind in 2011. Khartoum’s suppport for Riek has been tempered by its campaign to have admittedly unjust sanctions removed. This is part of such a campaign...

..It is a self-serving campaign of political theater. I also understand that a lot of that Sorghum is derived from the Nation size lands Khartoum annexed, particularly the lands annexed to White Nile State. I’ll express gratitude when the net damage is eclipsed by your all too public displays of grace and kindness. I really do wish that both sides of the one true Sudan can mend ties and prosper t

Khent
Leave this stupid maroon to bark like a crazy dog. Had it been genuine act of charity why going around demanding gratitude if that was not political showdown. Only food oriented individuals would kneel lowly to thank khartoum because it doesn’t deserve that since it is the architect of that war through it southern agency besides that it is still Sudanese resources. If that was genuine move

Who are these terrorist? There’s no one interested hearing this piece of shit. Sudanese people are in dire of an immediate needs of foods in two areas. Known as southern blue nile and south Kordufan. So, if not for the sake of lie, what it a big deal, for the sudan’s big criminal boy to think of our great people? We have got none connection any longer! So, treat whoever come to your country_

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